What and Where are the 2008 Paralympics

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The Paralympic Games are held every four years, following the Olympic Games, and are governed by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) -  (The Paralympic Games are sometimes confused with the Special Olympics, which are only for people with intellectual disabilities.)

When did the Paralympic Games First start?

The Paralympics first started in 1948 when Ludwig Guttmann organized a sports competition which involved world war 2 veterans that had spinal injuries.

Afterwards a similar event was organized in Toronto, Canada where different disability groups were added and the idea of merging together and taking part in athletic sports was a success.

The name derives from the Greek "para" ("beside" or "alongside") and thus refers to a competition held in parallel with the Olympic Games. No relation with paralysis or paraplegia is intended, however, the word Paralympic was originally a portmanteau combining 'paraplegic' and 'Olympic'.

The number of athletes participating in Summer Paralympic Games have increased from 400 athletes from 23 countries in Rome in 1960 to 3806 athletes from 136 countries in Athens in 2004.

Disability Category Definitions for Paralympic Games:
(These categories apply to both summer and winter Paralympics.)

Amputee: Athletes with a partial or total loss of at least one limb.

Cerebral Palsy: Athletes with non-progressive brain damage, for example cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, stroke or similar disabilities affecting muscle control, balance or coordination.

Intellectual Disability: Athletes with a significant impairment in intellectual functioning and associated limitations in adaptive behaviour (currently suspended.)

Wheelchair: Athletes with spinal cord injuries and other disabilities which require them to compete in a wheelchair.

Visually Impaired: Athletes with vision impairment ranging from partial vision, sufficient to be judged legally blind, to total blindness.

Athletes with a physical disability that does not fall strictly under one of the other five categories, such as dwarfism, multiple sclerosis or congenital deformities of the limbs such as that caused by thalidomide.

2008 Paralympics Beijing China

Athletes with disabilities from all around the world have been patiently waiting for the 2008 Paralympics.

Each come together and practice as hard as they can to measure up against the best groups of athletes the world can offer. This year Beijing China have been honored, being offered to host two of the most important sport events of the world.

The municipal government of Beijing is now attending to all that must be done so that the events can take place as best as possible. A large marketing program is being launched to ensure the best service for both the Paralympic athletes and their fans.

The paralympics will give a boost of economy to all merchants in the surroundings and the sport will urge the whole population to awaken to all the disabled people of not only China, but of the world. This being something of great importance to all of China, being responsible for such an important gathering of both moral importance and the much awaited sport events at the same time.

Here is a cry of all the athletes with disabilities, saying all in all we can do it too! China is now recruiting a record amount of volunteers to help organize and prepare, the amount of volunteers may reach up to 120,000. With the highest number of sports competitions in history the Beijing Paralympics now have 20 different games in motion.

Games to be part of the 2008 paralympics Beijing, China from September 6 - 17, 2008:

Wheelchair rugby, Wheelchair tennis, Wheelchair basketball, Wheelchair fencing, Archery, Athletics, Football 5-a-side, Football 7-a-side, Goalball, Judo, Powerlifting, Boccia, Cycling, Equestrian, Rowing, Sailing, Shooting, Swimming, Table tennis, and Volleyball.

Previous and Future Winter Paralympic Games:

Previous and Future Summer Paralympic Games:

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